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Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA)
12 Credit Advanced Technical CertificateProgram Description
Wisconsin Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) certification permits the holder to perform the following activities as delegated and supervised by a dentist: (a) Placement and finishing of restoration material after the dentist prepares a tooth for restoration; (b) Application of sealants; (c) Coronal polishing; (d) Impressions; (e) Temporizations; (f) Packing cord; (g) Removal of cement from crowns; (h) Adjustment of dentures and other removable oral appliances; (i) Removal of sutures and dressings; and, (k) Application of topical fluoride, fluoride varnish, or similar dental topical agent.
As a prerequisite to program enrollment, an applicant must have one of the following: a) Completion of at least 1,000 hours practicing as a dental assistant and holds the certified dental assistant credential issued by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc., or its successor. b) Completion of at least 2,000 hours practicing as a dental assistant, as verified by the supervising licensed dentist.
EFDA graduates, as members of a team of oral health professionals, work to evaluate, treat and manage patients of all ages in dental office settings. In addition to performing dental assistant duties, the scope of practice for Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary includes, but is not limited to:
• Performing preventative procedures • Performing restorative procedures • Performing prosthodontic procedures
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Financial Aid
Not Available
Courses That Fit Your Schedule
Professional-Friendly
Designed for working dental assistants, our program offers training on Thursday nights and Fridays, so you won’t miss work or lose your weekends.
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Outcomes
Graduates will be able to…
- Maintain infection and hazard control
- Maintain clear field of vision including isolation techniques
- Perform preventative procedures
- Perform restorative procedures
- Perform prosthodontic procedures
Careers
Some of the potential careers graduates can pursue are:
- Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary
Courses
The Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) Advanced Technical Certificate is a 12 Credit program. The following is a typical semester breakdown of the courses within the program.
* College 101 (10-890-165) is not part of the program credit requirements but is a College Requirement for graduation that must be passed with a “C” or better.
Credit for Prior Learning Available
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Additional Information
What is the EFDA Program?
The Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) program is designed to provide dental assistants with additional training to perform expanded duties under the supervision of a dentist. This program prepares students to apply for Wisconsin EFDA certification.
What are the Prerequisites for the EFDA Program?
To enroll in the EFDA program, students must meet one of the following requirements:
- Hold a Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) certified dental assistant credential and have a minimum of 1,000 hours of dental assistant practice, or
- Have a minimum of 2,000 hours of dental assistant practice, as verified by the supervising licensed dentist.
What are the EFDA Courses?
- Dental Health Safety (10-508-101) (1 credit)
- Dental & General Anatomy (31-508-304) (2 credits)
- EFDA Preventative Procedures (10-508-122) (1 credit)
- EFDA Dental Procedures (10-508-121) (3 credits)
- EFDA Prosthodontic Procedures (10-508-123) (2 credits)
- EFDA Clinical (10-508-124) (2 credits)
Students who have completed a Dental Assistant program within the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) have likely already taken Dental Health Safety and Dental & General Anatomy courses. The remaining EFDA courses include:
Term 1 Courses – Offered on Thursday Evenings & Fridays
- EFDA Preventative Procedures (1 credit)
- EFDA Dental Procedures (3 credits)
- EFDA Prosthodontic Procedures (2 credits)
These courses will be delivered one at a time throughout the semester in the order listed above.
Term 2 Course
EFDA Clinical (2 credits) – This course is taken only after all other EFDA courses are successfully completed.
What Will My Course Schedule Look Like?
The EFDA course schedule was designed with the working Dental Assistant in mind. We will schedule first-term classes as follows:
- EFDA Preventative Procedures – Weeks 1-3 on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- EFDA Dental Procedures – Weeks 4-11 on Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- EFDA Prosthodontic Procedures – Weeks 12-16 on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
EFDA Clinical will be taken in the second term and requires 108 hours of hands-on experience at a dental clinic.
When Does the EFDA Program Start?
The EFDA program will begin in Fall 2025.
Does NTC Help Find an Affiliation Site?
At this time, NTC does not assist in securing clinical sites. The program is designed for working dental assistants who will complete their clinical rotation at their place of employment. However, once NTC expands its dental clinic to include the Dental Therapy program, EFDA students may have the opportunity to complete clinical rotations on-site.
What Textbooks Are Required?
Students are required to purchase the following textbooks:
- Modern Dental Assisting, 14th Edition (Book & Workbook) – Debbie S. Robinson CDA, MS
ISBN: 9780323824408 - Dental Materials, Clinical Application for Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists, 4th Edition
ISBN: 9780323596589 - PA Expanded Function Dental Assistants Exam (Review for EFDA Exam)
Available at: RBM Publisher
What Equipment and Supplies Are Required?
Students will need to purchase:
- An instrument kit, including:
- Adult and child dentition models
- One series of individual teeth (50) for lab/test-out
- Basic instrument set-up
- Rubber cheek
- Utility gloves
- Scrubs
- White shoes and white socks
Fees for the instrument kit have not yet been determined.
Admissions Process
Our application process takes just a few minutes to complete, but we want to make sure you have the things you’ll need on hand to complete the application. We’re here to help if you have any questions while submitting your application.
Before you apply, you should know
- This program begins in Fall of 2025, but we are accepting applications now.
- As a prerequisite to program enrollment, an applicant must have one of the following: a) Completion of at least 1,000 hours practicing as a dental assistant and holds the certified dental assistant credential issued by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc., or its successor. b) Completion of at least 2,000 hours practicing as a dental assistant, as verified by the supervising licensed dentist.
Fill out our pre-admissions form
The pre-admissions form allows us to verify that you have satisfied the dental assistant practice hours prerequisite prior to submitting the admissions application.
Submit Pre-Admissions FormWhat’s Next?
We’ll follow up and let you know when you are able to complete the admissions application.